The
Wailers left producer Lee Perry circa April/May
1971. The parting was acrimonious, with money,
as usual, the source of bitter contention. Perry's
brilliant musical instincts and his wild innovative
flourishes both amazed and offended other artists
who often cut their best work under his tutelage,
but sometimes resented the fact thaat the final
product was often artistically more Perry's than
theirs. Bob loved working with Perry and understood
that the Upsetter's uniques lyrical and musical
thoughts could provide just the right touch on
certain material. Peter and Bunny, however, resented
Perry's ideas and intrusions into their musical
thoughts which they had already worked out patiently
and completely.

The
Upsetter was cutting numerous versions over his
hit riddims dubbing on dj's or instrumentalists,
often revoicing the cuts himself. Thus an Upsetter
hit like Junior Byles' Beat Down Babylon was versioned
over by Perry nearly fifteen times, and then Perry
leased out the rhythm to several other producers
who proceeded to version it themselves.All three
Wailers were unalterably opposed to this practice
and refused to allow their hits to be routinely
versioned by Perry or anyone else. Another bone
of contention was the Wailers' desire to tighten
up the act by playing their own instruments on
recording sessions to save or earn the sideman
fee.

They
needed a drummer and wanted Carlton Barrett who,
with his bass playing sibling Aston, formed the
nucleus of Perry's recording band, the Upsetters.
Bunny had been playing bass for some time, but
they knew Carlton and Aston came as a team. They
made their pitch and enraged Perry when he learned
of their treachery. For a short time the Barretts
hesitated, then tried to fill both roles as Wailers
and Upsetters, but by the end of 1971 they were
firmly in the Wailers' camp. In April of 1971
the Wailers began a five moth period of heavy
recording which yielded some of the most potent
work, the equal of their best with Perry, but
this time destined for release on thier own Tuff
Gong label, equally and jointly owned by Bob,
Bunny and Peter. They had learned a lot during
their early eyars about the business of selling
music in Jamaica and they had established a Wailers
Record Shop on Beeston Street in Western Kingston
where they could both distribute wholesale and
sell retail. They already had a backlog of masters
for the Wail 'N Soul 'M period of the late sixties
which they pressed up on a myriad of couplings
to sell through the store while they recorded
their newest material. Things were beginning to
look lean before they dropped the bomb of the
year, Trenchtown Rock, a major smash.